''We want better friendship with Japan, and I think pretty obviously we are getting that. But we also want better friendship with China.

''We are working on a free trade deal with China. I'm still reasonably optimistic we will succeed there. We want better friendship with everyone.

''The point that I keep making is that you don't win new friends by losing old ones and countries, like people, are capable of having more friends at the same time.''

While China was criticising Mr Abbott, Mr Abe's speech to Parliament also found a critic - former prime minister Malcolm Fraser.

Mr Fraser said Mr Abe was the ''second head of government who's made a speech that should only have been made on his own soil. The first was President Obama.''

Mr Fraser was referring to Barack Obama's 2011 speech - also to Parliament - outlining a United States ''pivot'' towards greater involvement in the Asia-Pacific region, and the rotation of US troops through Darwin. That speech drew thunderous criticism from Beijing.

Mr Fraser said Australia would be defeated if it sided with the US in a war against China. ''If America couldn't beat Vietnam, do you think they can beat China? Not one hope in a thousand.''